A LOW-NITROGEN LOW-PHOSPHORUS VEGAN DIET FOR PATIENTS WITH CHRONIC-RENAL-FAILURE

The nutritional treatment of chronic renal failure with a low-protein low-phosphorus diet (conventional low-protein diet, CLPD) is effective in reducing uremic intoxication. slowing the progression of renal fai lure and preventing secondary hyperparathyroidism. Unfortunately, in s ome patients, the poor palatability and the high cost of the protein-f ree substitutes, together with difficulties in following the diet away from home, can make good compliance difficult, possibly causing low e nergy intake and malnutrition. Here the results are reported of an att empt we made to overcome these drawbacks, using a diet supplying only natural foods of plant origin in definite proportions to give an essen tial amino acid supply satisfying the recommended dietary allowance. T his is possible thanks to an appropriate cereal-legume mixture, supply ing proteins complementary for essential amino acids. Additional posit ive features of this special vegan diet (SVD) are the high ratio of un saturated to saturated fatty acids, the absence of cholesterol, and th e lower net acid production in comparison with a mixed diet. This stud y indicates that the results obtained with the SVD are similar to thos e obtained with the CLPD. Therefore the SVD can be a substitute for th e CLPD in the management of patients with mild chronic renal failure. The SVD is the diet of choice when products made of starch are not ava ilable or poorly tolerated.